The Inevitable

My last blog post was about Keziah - that she is now 5. This is exciting stuff!! She is now the age that I can remember myself. I can't remember too many things before 5, but I do remember quite a few things when I was 5, the biggest being the start of my schooling career.

Well, one more night sleeping, and our daughter will embark on her schooling career! As I type this, she is sound asleep already, looking so little and too small to leave the home for school.

Tomorrow, bright and early, she will be heading to school. I am supposed to have her at the bus stop at 7 am. That's right - I told you her day will be bright and early!! But seeing as I have to drive her to the bus stop, I might as well let her sleep longer and drive her to school, which is only 7 minutes away.

As the start of her schooling becomes closer, I am feeling like any other first time parent out there. I am filled with so many mixed emotions about it all. And all these emotions come over me in waves. Sometimes the waves are nicely rolling in, while other times it feels like I am drowning in them as they crush me.

Just coming to terms with the fact that she will be out of the home more on the days she goes to school than in the home has been difficult. It leaves me breathless and frantic - worrying and feeling guilty for all the times that I shooed her away the last 5 years instead of spending each and every waking moment with her.

But then I reassure myself that it is just Kindergarten, which means she will not be going everyday, just Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Friday. That means I have every Monday and Wednesday with her yet. Phew!!

Then, just when I think everything will be okay,  I think about her all on her own with her birthmark, and the waves come crashing down around me again. For the most part, the last 5 years we have been there to help her through so many difficult social situations, where she was put on the spot for her birthmark. Every time she answered like a champ, but I (or Nathan) was always there to help her along. Now she'll be out on her own and having to deal with it without us keeping an eye on the situation. That makes me feel engulfed with doubts of whether I have prepared her enough to handle these situations.

However, I did mention that some waves come rolling in nicely. These are the waves that ease my thoughts, waves that wash over me and make me feel relaxed, thankful and at peace with this new stage that is about to start.

We are ever so grateful that we have the privilege of sending Keziah to a school where she will be taught by people who profess and believe the same promises that we do; we are so thankful that she may attend a school that is a sister school that was started by our grandparents, people who worked very hard to start our own Christian schools. She will not only learn her ABCs and 123s, but will continue to grow and learn what it means to be a fruitful citizen in the kingdom of God.

Our gratitude continues when we realize the privilege that our daughter may actually *get* an education - with no fears of being shot at; or having to walk 2 miles in the heat; she may go each day with a full stomach; she may go where there will be new pencils, workbooks, crayons and glue waiting for her, a beautiful playground filled with lots of children.

When the realities of life come washing over me, I need to remember to look for the one and only Life Preserver - our Father. Not only will Keziah go to school tomorrow with a new back pack, shoes, a lunch and a stuffie, she will be going with her Lord, who is constantly watching over her. And it is that fact that makes tomorrow a little easier to welcome.

We pray for all those who will be involved in Keziah's education. May God continue to bless schools and teachers everywhere. And may He be especially with those in countries where parents would love to send their children, but have absolutely no money to buy food, never mind finding a penny for education of their little ones. We pray that ways may be found for these little children to also learn to read and write. And we pray that the privileges we have here in Canada may never, ever be lost on us.

Five! Cinq! Cinco! Vijf!

No matter what language you speak, there is no doubting it, this girl is now FIVE.

That means we have had 5 years with this beautiful creation of our God, watching her grow from this tiny 7 lb 5 oz baby girl to this full of life brown-eyed beauty.

Ahhhhhh! She was just so adorable as a baby! Let me tell you, it was VERY hard to pick a picture of her before she was one. Man, was she ever a cute baby!!

She had her birthday while we were camping, much to her delight! She tells everyone that fact! It was an enjoyable day, even though that is when we had that big storm and lost the power. But the day started off right - with good morning hugs.

And then straight into opening presents :o)

(Hmmmm, maybe I should get her eyes checked before school starts?!)

 

We were able to get in a walk before the storm came, and wouldn't you know it - she found a .5 coin on the path! Perfect for someone turning 5!!

 

Even though we were camping, she still received a birthday call from her Opa.

 

We decorated cookies for some fun!

 

And then the storm hit.......just after this picture:

 

You can see how dark it became through the window behind Lincoln. This was 3:30 in the afternoon! (the clock doesn't work :o). Thankfully, Keziah was given glow bracelets from a camping neighbour (the only gift she still talks about to this day...pfft :o), which came in handy when the power went out!

 

A few days later, she celebrated again when Oma and Opa came to visit.

 

And then, as if that wasn't enough, when we came home from holidays, my mom took her out for the day to buy her a school bag (ack! It's really going to happen, this school thing, isn't it??!) and took her to a craft store for her to pick something out. She came home with a birdhouse to paint, which she just did and is now in our tree, filled with leaves :o)

 

We have been so blessed to watch this little lamb of God grow and develop into the sweetheart that she is. Keziah has been through more than the average 5 year old, but you wouldn't know it when you meet her. Catch her in a good and chatty mood (she is a girl after all......unpredictable is the name of the game :o) and you will be taken in by those bright and expressive brown eyes.

 

We pray that she will continue to grow in her love for her Lord and Saviour, and that God will continue to give her what she needs to face what lies ahead. She will be having some big changes ahead, one of them being school as well as still some more surgeries. God has been by her side the last 5 years, and we have no doubt that He will remain there. We praise God for blessing us with this gift. Often people tell us that she is so blessed to have us as her parents. I correct them - it is us that are so blessed to be able to call her 'daughter'. The privilege is not lost on us. Thank you, Lord.

Camping Part Deux

So, where were we? Oh yes, the puddle. Sorry it took a few days for this to be continued - I've been busy picking and washing mud off me since Saturday. And no, it wasn't from camping, but from completing Tough Mudder (pictures coming soon! So FUN!!!!). Here I thought this next picture was a lot of mud on someone.....but oh how I am wrong!!

Puddles are so fun, not just for fishing, but for biking through as well :o
But it wasn't all puddles. We actually enjoyed some of the nicest weather we have had in a looong time for camping. And so we were able to spend plenty of time at the beach. This is when the kids learned that I actually know how to swim. They were quite surprised. It is very rare for me to swim in a lake, with such toes like mine that look like worms.....but I did it!! And loved spending that time with the kids.

This is really the only reason why Lincoln loves coming to the beach - for a drinking box and snacks. And if I have no more food left, he has no problems with going to whomever he sees digging in their coolers. Stinker :o)

Back at the campsite - see? Glamping at its finest - steak, baked potato and corn on the cob. Mmm! Food tastes so much better outside.

Lining up his cars was another activity that took up a lot of time. I have pictures of him doing this last year. Some things apparently haven't changed in over a year with this boy! The first picture is from last year, with the second one from this year.

Opa and Oma came to visit for a few days, which was enjoyable! They love spending time with their grandchildren, so much so, that we thought they would love to have the kids sleep in their trailer for the nights they were there. Yeah, no go. :o)

Our last night, we always go and enjoy an ice cream.

Apparently, Lincoln didn't think enjoying ice cream on the last night was exciting enough. And so, right before bed, he managed to lock himself into the trailer bathroom. After a number of minutes, we were able to get him out. He looks so innocent, eh?! Not.

And the 10 days came to a close, filled with so many memories! I really noticed this year that we don't have a 'baby' with us - only one nap, and one that can be moved around. Last year, Lincoln was still sleeping twice a day, and Keziah also was still napping, which made things quite schedule-y.  It was such a fun 10 days and we are so thankful to the Lord that we were given this opportunity to be together as a family.

I think the most amazing thing is that we left with a 4 year old and came home with a 5 year old!! More on that next time :o)